Production of knitted fabrics



Marph 2, 1943. A. F. GUYLER ETAL PRODUCTION OF KNITTED FABRIC Filed Jan., 29, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 2

S. m RHW Efi WM .Rn Aww 7 l 2 22 2 March 2, 1943- A. F. GUYLER ETAL ,31

PRODUCTION OF KNITTED FABRIC Filed Jan. 29, 1941 3 Sheds-Sheet s -iwiia v9.5. m

Patented Mar. 2, 1943 UNiE - STATES Y TENT OFFICE- PRODUCTION on KNITTED FABRICS Albert 'Fairholme Guyler, William Henry Boaler,

and William Ewart Stanley, Spondon, near Derby, England, assignors to Celanese Corporatlon of America, a. corporationof Delaware Application January 29, 1941, Serial No. 376,43

In Great Britain February 3, 1940 28 Claims.

This invention relates to the production of knitted fabrics and especially to warp-knitted fabrics, i. e. fabrics comprising a large number of warp threads knitted together andrunning, on

the whole, parallel to the length of the'fabric in 'capable of occupying any of a small number of positions for feeding thread to any of a small group of needles in said series, cam means adapted to actuate successively the needles of said series of needles, and means acting progressively round said series of guides for moving each of said uides from a position for feeding thread to one of said small group of needles to a position for feeding thread to another at a time between the occasions on which the thread guided by said guide is knitted by said needles. By these means a method of warp-knitting is carried out in which a circular series of threads are knitted in turn into previously formed stitches, and, in the in--v tervals between the occasions on which each thread is knitted, that thread is guided to and fro within a small range circumferentially of said circular series, whereby each thread is confined to a small number of wales in the resulting warpknitted fabric. By this continuous method of knitting a very high rate of production can be achieved since a large number of sets of knitting cams may be arranged round the circular series of needles, and while the knitting cams may be rotated relatively slowly so as to keep down the speed of the moving parts the production is multiplied by the large number of cams employed. In spite of the high rate of production, the knitting action is very steady, so producing very little noise, vibration or wear, the machine possessing in this respect the advantages of speed and steadiness possessed by multi-feeder circular knitting machines while producing warp-knit fabrics of a kind that have hitherto been produced only in machines having heavy and rapidly reciprocating parts, each consisting of a large number of knitting elements similarly and simultaneously operated.

The invention is particularly convenient as making possible the production, in tubular form of fabrics that have hitherto been produced only in-the fiat form. The fabric, being already in the form of a tube does not need to be sewn up in that 0 i form for purposes of inspection and subsequent processing, e. g. dyeing, finishing and the like. In fact, as the steadiness of the machine enables it to be placed, in large numbers if desired, on an upper floor, the fabric, as it is formed and without being wound, may pass directly from the machine through the fioor, to be inspected and wound on the floor below. Having no edges to curl, the fabric may be wound as a neat roll without creases.

The movement of the guides between the occasions on which the threads guided thereby are knitted is preferably effected on the guides successively by suitable means producing waves of motion round the guide circle, the motion effected by any thread at any instant being different in phase from the motion of the adjacent threads of the thread series.

being moved together and the guides of successive groups being moved successively. In this case, it is necessary that the number of groups should be at least twice, and preferably three or more times the number of sets of knitting cams so that each knitting cam may be working in conjunction with a group of guides that is stationary in a position relative to the needles for knitting, while one or more groups, between each set of knitting cams and the next, are performing the necessary motion from one such position-to another.

The circumferential movement of the guides necessary for the purpose of knitting may be brought about on the individual guides successively by any convenient means. Thus, the guides may be in the form of fiat spring blades pointing generally to the centre of the machine, but inclined, over part of their length, to the radial line of the machine. By pressing the inner end of the inclined part inwards ,or outwards, which may be done bymeans of a cam, the tip of the blade constituting the thread guide, may be caused to execute the desired movement substantially parallel to the circumference of the needle circle.

If the blades are sprung, they will occupy, when not under the influence of cam and like means, a definite position, and. this position may be utilised as one suitable for feeding threads to the needles, only the other position or positions of the guides for feeding thread being brought about by cam or like means. If the blades are pivoted, they must be positively positioned in each desired position, and this may be done-by cam or like means acting on the guides on either or both sides of the pivot point. Means other than cam The guides may, however, be associated as groups, all the guides of one group means may be used for positioning. Thus for example, the guides may be positioned by means of toothed wheels running round the series of guides, the teeth first engaging the guides successively and then deflecting them progressively to the desired position, th rates of rotation of the toothed wheels about their own axes and the axis of the machine being so controlled as to bring about this position at the desired point relative to the needle cams.

By the means described above each of the threads being knitted into the fabric may be guided to the desired needle. In order to bring it into engagement with the needle and under the beard or hook of the needle, use may be made of a circular series of sinkers passing between the needles and moved radially by means of sinker cams.

The tubular warp-knitted fabric produced in I accordance with the present invention comprises a large number of warp threads knitted together in a plurality of continuous helical courses of stitches, the repeated knitting of each stitch into a preceding stitch forming a large number of wales crossing said helical series, each warp thread being confined to a few of said wales and passing from one wale to another between successive stitches into which said thread is knitted. Since each thread moves to and fro over only a few wales of the fabric and is knitted on only a fewneedles in the machine the number of threads necessary in the series of warp threads for producing a tubular-fabric is exactly equal to the number of needles, or in exceptional cases to a multiple or sub-multiple thereof. It is not necessary, as it is in U. S. Patent No. 1,998,473 describing the production of fabrics of the Milanese type, to provide a number of threads slightly greater or slightly less than the number of needles to allow for the fact that the threads are moving always in one direction or the other round the needle circle and across the wales of the fabric. The thread guides in the present case are, in alternate intervals between knitting cams, respectively more closely and less closely spaced than the needles, so that their mean spacing, and

consequently their total number, are equal to those of the needles. The closer spacing arises from the fact that, in any interval between knitting cams in which it occurs, the guides opposite the leading knitting cams have been displaced against the direction of motion of the cams, while the guides opposite the following knitting cams have been displaced in the same direction as the motion of the cams. Conversely the less close spacing arises when the guides opposite the leading cams defining the interval are displaced in the direction of motion of the cams, and those opposite the following cams in the other direction.

While the present invention is particularly advantageous as producing a tubular warpknitted fabric at a high speed arising from the fact that continuous knitting is employed and that a substantial number of knitting cams may operate simultaneously round the machine, the invention is not limited to the production of tubular fabric. If it is desired to produce a fabric with a selvedge this may be done on the machine and by the method according to the invention simply by omitting a number of adjacent warp threads so that the tube produced on the machine is interrupted. By interrupting the tube at different points round the machine a plurality of selvedged fabrics may be produced simultaneously and of any desired width up to a total nearly equal to the circumference of the machine. Further, by shifting warp threads (by any suitablemechanism acting on the guides) from one selvedge to another, fashioned pieces may be produced, e. g. blanks for fully fashioned of course, occur if no fabric is produced at the point on the circumference of the machine at which the mark would occur.

By way of example apparatus according to the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings 7 Figure 1 shows the relationship between a single thread being knitted and the needles and guides;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the layout of the machine showing the manner in which the guides may be moved in groups relatively to the needles;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a different layout showing how the guides may be moved individually with reference to the needles;

Figures 4 and 5 are a diagrammatic plan view and side elevation respectively showing the form of guide represented in Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of the operative part of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, the needles are indicated at l and the level of the fabric knitted thereby at 2. The tips of the thread guides are indicated at 3, and a single thread is shown. in solid line at l and in dotted line at 5, in twodifferent positions relative to the needles. The thread 4 has just been knitted on the needle indicated at 5, and the guides 3 have been moved to the right in order that the thread may next be knitted on the needle indicated at 1. After knitting has taken place on the needle I the guides 3 are then moved to the left so as to bring the thread knitted on the needle 1 into the position shown in dotted lines at 5 where it is ready to be knitted again on the needle 6. While only one thread is shown, in the knitting of a fabric a thread is provided for each needle and by these means a single-bar 2 x 2 fabric is produced.

In Figure 2 the manner in which the guide motions referred to above in connection with Figure 1 are effected is illustrated. For purposes of clarity a small circle of needles I0 is shown, the needles I!) being actuated by two sets of knitting cams diagrammatically illustrated at I l and 12. Where a tubular fabric is knitted, at least two sets of cams are necessary, in order to allow the threads to be moved in one direction betweeri the passage of one set of cams and the passage of the other, and in the other direction between the passage of the latter set and the next ensuing passage of the first. It will be understood, however, that in practice, in order to bring about the maximum of production, a larger circle of needles and a larger number of sets of knitting cams would be employed, so that the necessity of providing at least two sets of cams is no disadvantage. The knitting cams are moved relative the needles in anti-clockwise direction. The 'guides 3 are disposed in six groups numbered l3 to I8 and the groups I3 and M are in correct position for knitting in conjunction with the knitting cams II while the groups I5 and I1 are in the correct position for knitting in conjunction with the knitting cams 12. This implies that the guides l3, l4, are considerably in advance of their -mean position while the guides 1'6 and I? are considerably in lag of their mean position, that is to say, the guides l3 and 44 are in one of their two position relative to the needles, while the guides l6 and I1 are in the other. As a consequence' of this, the guides in the group I5 have less space than their due proportion of the needle circle, while the guides in the section l8 have more space. No difliculty arises in connection with the guides I8, but in connection with the guide l5 it will be'seen that the .end guides indicated at 19 and also the end guides 20 of the section l4 and the end guides 2| of the section l8 are crowded together. This is allowed for by the springiness of the blades of which the guides are formed but in order to prevent the guides from actually touching one another so that their threads become entangled, pacing pads indicated at 22 are attached to the guides liable to come into contact. It will further be noted that in order to allow for the crowding of the guide sections as at the guide section I5 in Figure 2 the block in which each group of gu des is set does not occupy a full sixth of the needle circle. In consequence, it is necessary that the end guides of each section should be mounted close together at their roots as indicated at 23 in section l4 and should be bent or splayed outwards as indicated at 24 in order that their spacing at the tips may be identical with the needle spacing.

The close crowding that occurs in the arrangement shown in Figure2 between the sections of guides, e. g. between sections l4, l5 and 15, I6, may be avoided by actuating the guides individually instead of in groups. A method of doing this is shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. As is shown in Figure 3, the guides are mounted at their roots 25 at uniform intervals in a ring indicated at 26. The guides are cranked by being bent at the four points 21, 23, 29 and 30, the bending at 28 and 29 being in the opposite direction to the bending at 21 and 39. As a result of this, each guide tip 3| has a mean position on the same radius of the machine a its root 25. The inclination of the guides near their t ps at an angle of about 45 to the radial causes each thread. proceeding radially to the tip of its guide to cross a number of other guides.

As is shown in Figure 4, swinging of the guide tip 3| in an are about the root 25 brings about the desired circumferential movement of the guide tip 31 and also a substantial radial movement of the point 28. This radial movement is made use of to bring about the swinging of the tip 3|. On the lower side of each guide is provided a butt 32 which is engaged by an eccentric cam groove 33 rotating about the needle circle in the anticlockwise direction. The eccentricity of the cam groove 3! displaces the butts 32 radially to difierent extents round the needle circle and so brings about a circumferential displacement of the guide tips 3| to different extents round the needle circle. As shown in Figure 3 this displacement is at its maximum in a clockwise direction opposite the needle cams indicated at 12 and is at its maximum in the anticlockwise direction opposite the needle cams ll. At these points of maximum displacement the spacing of the tips of the guides is at its mean value, which mean value of the spacing is exactly equal to the value of the needle spacing. Consequently the guides opposite the cams I I and i2 are correctly spaced to co-operate with the needles for knitting. At the points displaced at 90 from the needle cams II and I2 the guides are in their mean positions but the guide spacing is at a minimum on the left hand side of the figure and at a maximum on the right hand side of the figure. This difierence in spacing corresponds to the crowding of the guides on the left hand side of Figur 2 and to the gaps between the guide sections on the right hand side of Figure 2. As however, the displacement of the guides is gradually effected round the guide circle, the difference in guide spacing is not concentrated at two points but is uniformly distributed,

over the whole space available between the sets of .knitting cams.

In the machine of which the operative part is shown in section in greater detail in Figure 6 the needles i are shown as capable of sliding vertically in tricks in a needle cylinder 35 rigidly mountedon frame 36 of the machine and the needle cams l2 are mounted in a cam-box 31 mounted on the frame 36 and driven by means of a pinion 38 on a shaft 39, the pinion 38 engaging with a gear ring 40 secured to the cam-box 31. The sinkers 4| are mounted in radial tricks in a sinker ring 42 clamped about the upper part of the needle cylinder 35 and are operated by means of sinker cams 43 carried on a sinker cam ring 44 which is mounted by means of pillars 45 on the cam-box 31. The sinker cam ring 44 is located by means of rollers 46 mounted on a part 41 of the frame 35. Thus the sinker cams 43 share the motion of the needle cams l2 imparted by the pinion 38 engaging with the gear ring 40.

The guides of the machine are operated on the principle described above with reference to Figure 3 and are in the form of spring fingers 49, 59. While a radial section through the machine would actually out through a large number of guides by reason of their inclination to the radial line, as mentioned in connection with Figure 3, for purposes of clarity only one of each kind of guide 49, 50, is shown in Figure 6, in full. The lower guides 49 are mounted on a guide ring 5| secured to a pillar -52 of the machine frame, a clamping ring 53 and bolt 54 being employed to hold the roots of the guides 89 rigidly in position. The upper guides 59 are clamped to a similar guide ring -55 by means of a clamping ring 56 and bolt 51. The guides 49 have downwardly projecting butts 58, engaged by guide cams 59 projecting upwards from a cam ring 69, which is mounted by means of a bolt BI and spacing piece 62 on the sinker cam ring 44. In this manner the guide cams 59, like the sinker cams 33, share the motion of the knitting cams l2. The upper guides 50 are provided each with a shoulder 64 engaged by cams 65 carried in a cam ring 66. The cam ring 66 is supported by rollers 61 mounted on stub shafts 68 secured to the pillars 52 and are located, in a horizontal plane. by means of rollers 69 also mounted on the pillars 52. The cam ring 35 is driven, in the same direction and at the same speed as the cams I2, 43 and 59, by means of a pinion 10 mounted on the shaft 39 and engaging with.a gear ring 1| integral with the cam ring 66. The diameters of the pinion 10 and the gear ring 1| are the same as those of the pinion 381 and the gear ring 40 respectively.

The machine shown in Figure 6 is designed to work on a substantial diameter and, instead of only a pair of sets of cams, as described with reference to Figures 2 and 3, a large number of sets of cams may be mounted in the cambox 31 round the machine. In consequence the guide cams 59, 65 instead of being more eccentrics as described with reference to Figure 3 are adapted to cause the guides to move to or fro several times in each revolution of the machine, the number of such motions being equal to the number of sets of knitting cams employed.

The warp threads to be knitted on the machine are fed as two sheets 14, 15 from Warp beams (not shown). The sheets of warps I4, I5 pass over the lower guide ring 5| and the lower guide clamping ring 53, over the curved part I6 of the lower guide fingers 49 and so directly to the guide eyes 11 at the ends of the guide fingers. As was observed with reference to Figure 3 the guide fingers 49 are inclined, over a portion of their length near their inner ends and including the curved portion I6, at an angle of about 45 to the radial line so that each warp thread, in passing over the curved part 16 crosses several guides and is in no danger of slipping be tween the guides until it is required to do so near the tips of the guides in order to reach the guide eyes TI. From the guide eyes "the threads proceed to the needles I by which they are knitted into the fabric I8 in the manner described with reference to Figure 1, being drawn into loops by means of the needles I co-operating with the sinkers 4|. The sinkers 4| are adapted to bring the threads radially inwards into engagement with the needles I beneath the beards I9 thereof. The sinkers 4|, after the threads 14, 15 have performed the desired circumferential movement under the influence of their guides 49, 50, move inwards to the position shown in Figure 6 so as to engage the threads 14, I5 individually and to press them into engagement with the appropriate needles I. For this purpose the sinkers 4| are provided with auxiliary throats or notches 80, in addition to the notches 8| by which the sinkers perform their normal function of holding down the fabric 18 as the needles rise. If it is desired that the threads should not engage under the beards of the needles adjacent to those on which they were last knitted, as in the production of a 2 x 2 fabric, the sinkers 4| may be caused to push the threads 14, I5 inside the needle circle so that the needles I adjacent to those on which the threads were last knitted rise outside the threads. By suitable timing between the needle cams I2 and the sinker cams 43, and suitably gauging the extent of the sinker motion the sinkers 4| may be adapted to cause each of the threads 14, 1-5, when the needles I rise, to lie behind the next needle to that on which it is last knitted, but in front of the next needle but one, it being understood that the threads, sloping forward from the sinkers 4| to their guides49 or 50, stand further in front of the next needle but one to that on which they were last knitted, than in front of the next needle. In this way the requisite engagement ofeach thread with a needle occupying the appropriate position with reference to the needle on which the thread was last knitted may bebrought about. The needles I shown in Figure 6 being bearded needles, require the co-operation of pressers which are provided for this purpose at -82, the pressers 82 being held in the tricks of because of the depth of the heads of the sinkers- 4| necessitated by the additional notches 80, which greater depth would prevent a solid presser reaching the needle beards I9 at the appropriate time.

By means of a machine described above, acting on the principle described with reference to Figure 3, tubular warp knitted fabrics of substantial diameter may be produced at high speeds by reason of the large number of knitting cams I2 that may be accommodated round the circumference of the machine.

By means of the invention many known types of warp-knitted fabric may be produced in which the warp threads run generally in a direction parallel to the length of the fabric. Thus, single bar fabrics of the 1 x 1 or of the 2 x 2 type can be produced or, by providing two series of warp threads (as described with reference to Figure 6) each with its appropriate set of guides and guideoperating means, multi-bar fabrics of many types may be produced. In addition, since knitting is proceeding continuously from needle to needle by means of knitting cams instead of proceeding simultaneously on all the needles, weft thread may be introduced into the fabric at any or all of the sets of knittin cams employed in the machine. This weft thread may either be knitted in the ordinary way along with the warp threads or it may be laid in, by suitable manipulation of sinkers and needles. Thus, heavy effect threads, or rubber threads may be incorporated in the fabric in this manner to produce a distinctive appearance or to give a high degree of elasticity to'the fabric.

Patterned fabrics may be produced by the method and machine according to the invention. In general, the patterning will be limited by the number of sets of knitting. cams and by the maximum range of movement of the thread guides but any desired degree of patterning within this range is possible. In addition, pattern effects may be produced, with bearded needles, by a suitable manipulation of the pressers employed for pressing the beards oi the needles. It will be understood that any patterning that may be produced in the way of longitudinal or zigzag stripes and the like, by employing warp threads of different colours or other characteristics arranged in a desired order may readily be utilised in the present invention.

Having described our invention, what we desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of warp-knitting comprising knitting a circular series of threads in turn into a circular series of threads, said knitting being effected at at least two points moving progressively round said circular series of threads and stitches and, in the intervals between the occasions on which each thread is knitted, guiding that thread to and fro within a small range circumferentially of said circular series whereby each thread is confined to a small number of wales in the resulting warp-knitted fabric.

2. A circular warp-knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles, a circular series of guides equal in number to the number of needles, each capable of occupying any of a small number of positions for feeding thread to any of a small group of needles in said series of needles, at least two sets of cams adapted to actuate successively the needles or said series of needles at different points moving progressively round said series of needles, and means acting progressively round said series of guides for moving each of said guides from a position for feeding thread to one of said small group of needles to a position for feeding thread to another at a time between the occasions on which the thread guided by said guide is knitted by said needles 3. A method of warp-knittingtubular fabric comprising knitting a closed circular series of threads in turn into a closed circular series of stitches previously formed in said circular series of threads, said knitting being eiiected at at least two points moving progressively round said circular series of threads and stitches, and in the intervals between the occasions on which each thread is knitted, guiding that thread to and fro within a small range circumierentially of said circular series whereby each thread is confined to a small number of wales in the resulting tubular warp-knitted fabric.

4. A method of warp-knitting tubular fabric comprising knitting a closed circular series of threads in turn into a closed circular series of stitches previously formed in said circular series of threads, said knitting being efiected at at least two points moving progressively round said circular series of threads and stitches and, in the intervals between the occasions on which each thread is knitted, guiding that thread to and fro within a small range circumferentially of said circular series whereby each thread is confined to a small number of wales in the resulting tubular warp-knitted fabric.

5. A method of warp-knitting tubular fabric comprising knitting a closed circular series of threads in turn into a closed circular series oi stitches previously formed in said circular series of threads, said knitting being effected at at least two points moving progressively round said circular series of threads and stitches and, in the intervals between the occasions on which each thread is knitted, guiding that thread to and fro within a small range circumferentially of said circular series whereby each thread is confined to a small number of wales in the resulting tubular warp-knitted fabric, the guiding of the threads in said intervals being efiected by waves of motion of the threads, each wave affecting several threads simultaneously.

6. A method of warp-knitting tubular fabric comprising knitting a closed circular series of threads in turn into a closed circular series of stitches previoushr formed in said circular series of threads, said knitting being efiected at at least two points moving progressively round said circular series of threads and stitches and, in the intervals between the occasions on which each thread is knitted, guiding that thread to and fro within a small range circumferentially of said circular series whereby each thread is confined to a small number-of wales in the resulting tubular warp-knitted fabric, the guiding of the threads in said intervals being efiected by waves of motion of the threads, the motion effected by any thread at any instant being difierent in phase from the motion of the adjacent threads in the series.

7. A method oi warp-knitting comprising knitting a circular series of threads in turn into a circular series of stitches previously formed in said circular series of threads, said hitting being effected at at least two points moving progressively round said circular series of threads andstitches and, in the intervals between the occasions on which each thread is knitted, guiding that thread to and fro within a small range circumferentially of said circular series whereby each thread is confined to a small number of wales in the resulting warp-knitted fabric, the guiding of the threads in said intervals being effected by moving th threads in groups of adjacent threads, each thread of a group being moved in the same way and at the same time as the rest of the threads in that group.

8. A method of warp-knitting tubular fabric comprising knitting a closed circular series of threads in turn into a closed circular series of stitches previously formed in said circular series of threads, said knitting being efiected at at least two points moving progressively round said circular series of threads and stitches and, in the intervals between the occasions on which each thread is knitted, guiding that thread to and fro within a small range circumferentially of said circular series whereby each thread is confined to a small number of wales in the resulting tubular warp-knitted fabric, the guiding of the threads in said intervals being effected by waves of motion of the threads, 'the threads moving as groups of adjacent threads each thread moving in the same way and at the same time as the rest of the threads in that group.

9. A method of warp-knitting comprising knitting a circular series of threads in turn into a circular series of stitches previously formed in said circular series of threads, said knitting being effected at at least two points moving progressively round said circular series of threads and stitches and, in the intervals between the occasions on which each thread is knitted, guiding that thread to and fro within a small range circumferentially of said circular series whereby each thread is confined to a small number of wales in the resulting warp-knitted fabric, said threads being guided by constantly engaging them at a series of points above and outside the circular series of needles at a substantially constant radius, and, after the knitting of each thread engaging that thread between said points and the needles, and pressing it into engagement with the needle on which it is next to be knitted.

10. A method of warp-knitting tubular fabric comprising knitting a closed circular series of threads in turn into a closed circular series of stitches previously formed in said circular series of threads, said knitting being efiected at at least two points moving progressively round said circular series of threads and stitches and, in. the intervals between the. occasions on which each thread is knitted, guiding that thread to and fro within a small range circumferentially of said circular series whereby each, thread is confined to a small number of Wales in the resulting tubular warp-knitted fabric, said threads being guided by constantly engaging them at a series of points above and outside the circular series of needles at a substantially constant radius and, after the knitting of each thread engaging that thread between said points and the needles, and pressing it into engagement with the needle on which it is next to be knitted.

11. A method of warp knitting tubular fabric comprising knitting a closed circular series of threads in turn into a closed circular series of stitches previously formed in said circular series of threads, said knitting being affected at at least two points moving progressively round said circular series of threads and stitches and, in the intervals between the occasions on which each thread is knitted, guiding that thread to and fro within a small range circumferentially of said circular series whereby each thread is confined to a small number of wales in the resulting tubular warp-knitted fabric, said threads being guided by constantly engaging them at a series of points above and outside the circular series of needles at a substantially constant radius and, after the knitting of each thread engaging that thread between said points and the needles, and pressing it into engagement with the needle on which it is next to be knitted, the guiding oi the threads in said intervals being effected by waves of motion of the threads, the motion effected by any thread at any instant being diiIerent in phase from the motion of the adjacent threads in the series.

12. A method of warp-knitting comprising knitting a plurality of a circular series of threads in turn into a circular series of stitches previously formed in said circular series of threads, said knitting being effected at at least two points moving progressively round said circular series of threads and stitches and, in the intervals between the occasions on which each thread is knitted, guiding that thread to and fro within a small range circumferenitially of said circular series whereby each thread is confined to a small number of wales in the resulting warp-knitted fabric, each of said series of threads being guided to and fro independently of the remaining series.

13. A method of warp-knitting tubular fabric comprising knitting a plurality of closed circular circular series whereby each thread is confined to a small number of wales in the resulting tubular warp-knitted fabric, each of said series of threads being guided to and fro independently of the remaining series.

14. A method of warp-knitting tubular fabric comprising knitting a plurality of closed circular series of threads in turn into a closed circular series of stitches previously formed in said circular series of threads, said knitting being effected at at least two points moving progressively round said circular series of threads and stitches and, in the intervals between the occasions on which each threadis knitted, guiding that thread to and fro within a small range circumferentially of said circular series whereby each thread is confined to a small number of wales in the resulting tubular warp-knitted fabric, the guiding of the threads in said intervals being effected by waves of motion of the threads, the motion effected by any thread at any instant being different in phase from the motion of the adjacent threads in the series, each of said series of threads being guidedto and fro independently of the remaining series.

15. A method or warp-knitting tubular fabric comprising knitting a plurality of closed circular series of threads in turn into'a closed circular series of stitches previously formed in said circular series of threads, said knitting being effected said circular series oi threads and stitches and, in the intervals between the occasions on which said circular series whereby each thread is confined to a small number of wales in the resultingtubular warp-knitted fabric, said threads being guided by constantly engaging them at a series of points above and outside the circular series o f.--"

needles at a substantially constant radius, and after the knitting of each thread-engaging that thread between said points and the needles, and pressing it into engagement with the needle on which it is next to be knitted, the guiding of the threads in said intervals being effected by waves of motion of the threads, the motion effected by any thread at any instant being different in phase from the motion of the adjacent threads in the series, each of said series of threads being guided to and fro independently of the remaining series.

16. A method of warp-knitting tubular fabric comprising knitting a closed circular series of threads in turn into a closed circular series of stitches previously formed in said circular series of threads, said knitting being effected at at least two points moving progressively round said circu lar series of threads and stitches, knitting a single thread into each stitch of said circular series of stitches and, in the intervals between the occasions on which each thread is knitted, guiding that thread to and fro within a small range circumferentially of said circular series whereby each thread is confined to a small number of wales in the resulting tubular warp-knitted fabric.

17. A method of warp-knitting tubular fabric comprising knitting a closed circular series of threads in turn into a closed circular series of stitches previously formed in said circular series of threads, said knitting being efiected at at least two points moving progressively round said circular series of threads and stitches, knitting a single thread into each stitch of said circular series of stitches and, in the intervals between the occasions on which each thread is knitted, guiding that thread to and fro within a small range circumferentially of said circular series whereby each thread is confined to a. small number of wales in the resulting tubular warp-knitted fabric, the guiding of the threads in said intervals being affected by waves of motion of the threads, the motion efiected by any thread at any instant being difi'erent in phase from the motion of the adjacent threads in the series. Y

, 18. A method of warp-knitting tubular fabric comprising knitting a closed circular series of threads in turn into a closed circular series of stitches previously formed in said circular series of threads, said knitting being eilected at at least two points moving progressively round said circular series of threads and stitches, knitting a single thread into each stitch of said circular series of stitches and, in the intervals between the occasions on which each thread is knitted, guiding that thread to and fro within a small range circumferentially of said circular series at at least two points moving progressively round whereby each thread is confined to a small number of wales in the resulting tubular warp-knitted fabric, said threads being guided by constantly engaging them at a series of points above and outside the circular series of needles at a substantially constant radius and, after the knitting of each thread engaging that thread between said points and the needles, and pressing it into engagement with the needle on which it is next to be knitted, the guiding of the threads in said intervals being eifected by waves of motion of the threads, the motion effected by any thread at any instant being different in phase from the motion of the adjacent threads in the series.

19. A method of warp-knitting tubular fabric comprising knitting a plurality of closed circular sively round said circular series of threads and stitches, knitting a single thread into each stitch of said circular series of stitches and, in the intervals between the occasions on which each thread is knitted, guiding that thread to and fro within a small range circumferentially of said circular series whereby each thread'is confined to a small number of wales in the resulting tubular warp-knitted fabric, said threads being guided by constantly engaging them at a series of points above and outside the circular series of needles at a substantially constant radius, and after the knitting of each thread engaging that thread between said points and the needles, and pressing it into engagement with the needle on which it is next to be knitted, the guiding of the threads in said intervals being effected by waves of motion of the threads, the motion effected by any thread at any instant being different in phase from the motion of the adjacent threads in the series, each of said series of threads being guided to and fro independently of the remaining series.

20.- A circular warp-knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles, a circular series of guides, equal in number to the number of needles, each capable of occupying any 'of a small number of positions for feeding thread to any of a small group of needles in said series of needles, at least two sets of cams adapted to actuate successively the needles of said series of needles at different points all moving progressively round said series of needles, and means acting progressively round said series of guides for moving each of said guides from a position for feeding thread to one of said small group of needles to a position for feeding thread to another at a time between the occasions on which the thread guided by said guide is knitted by said needles.

21. A circular warp-knitting machine com: prising a circular series of needles, a circular series of guides, equal in number to the number of needles, each capable of occupying any of a small number of positions for feeding thread to any of a small group of needles in said series of needles, at least two sets of cams adapted to actuate succcessively the needles of said series of needles at difierent points moving progressively round said series of guides for producing waves of motion in the circular series of guides so as to move each of said guides from a position for feeding thread to one of said small group of needles to a position for feeding thread to another at a time between the occasions on which the thread guided by said guide is knitted by said needles, each of said waves at any time, affecting adjacent guides to difierent extents.

22. A circular warp-knitting machine comprising a, circular series of needles, a circular series of guides disposed in groups and equal in number to the number of needles, each guide being capable of occupying any of a small number of positions for feeding thread to any of a small group of needles in said series of needles,

at least two sets of cams adapted to actuate successively the needles of said series of needles at difierent points moving progressively round said series of needles, and means acting progressively round said series of guidesfor moving each of said guides from a position for feeding thread to one of said small group of needles to a position for feeding thread to another at a time between the occasions on which the thread guided by said guide is knitted by said needles, the guides in each group all being moved in the same way at the same time.

23. A circular warp-knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles, a circular series of guides disposed above and at a substantially constant radius outside the circular series of needles and equal in number to the number of needles.v

each guide being capable of occupying any of a small number of positions for feeding threadto any: of a small group of needles in said series of needles, at least two sets ofPcamS adapted to actuate successively theneedles of said series of needles at different points moving progressively round said series of needles, means acting progressively round said series of guides for moving each of .said guides from a position for feeding thread to one of said small group of needles to a position for feeding thread to another at a time between the occasions on which the thread guided by said guide is knitted by said needles and a series of radially movable elements disposed in alternation with the needles and adapted to engage the threads between said guides and said needles and to push the threads into engagement with the needles on which they are next to be knitted.

24.- A circular warp-knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles, a circular series of guides disposed above and at a substantially constant radius outside the circular series of needles and equal in number to the number of needles, each guide being capable of occupying any of a small number of positions for feeding thread to any of a small group of needles in said series of needles, at least two sets of cams adapted to actuate successively the needles of said series of needles at different points moving progressively round said series of needles, means acting progressively round said series of guides for producing waves of motion in the circular series of guides so as to move each of said guides from a position for feeding thread to one of said small group of needles to a position for feeding thread to another at a time between the occasions on which the thread guided by said guide is knitted by said needles, each of said waves at of their length, to the radial line of the machine, the tips of said blades constituting guides,

equal in number to the number of needles, each capable of occupying any of a small number of positions for feeding thread to any of a small group of needles in said series of needles, at least two sets of cams adapted to actuate successively the needles of said series of needles at difierent points moving progressively round said series of needles, and cam means acting progressively round said series of blades and adapted to press the inner end of the inclined part of each blade in a radial direction, the inclination of said blade causing the tip thereof to execute a circumfeiw by said tip is knitted by said needles.

26. A circular warp-knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles, a circular series of fiat blades pointing generally towards the center of the machine, but inclined, over part of their length, to the radial line of the machine, the tips of said blades constituting guides disposed above and at a substantially constant radius outside the circular series of needles, each guide being capable of occupying any of a small number of positions for feeding thread to any of a small group of needles in said series of needles, at least. two sets of cams adapted to actuate successively the needles of said sereis of needles at different points moving progressively round said series of needles, cam means acting progressively round said series of blades and adapted to press the inner end of the inclined part of each blade in a radial direction, the inclination of said blade causing the tip thereof to execute a circumferential movement from a position for feeding thread to one of said small group of needles to a position for feeding thread to another at a time between the occasions on which the thread guided by said tip is knitted by said needles and a series of radially movable elements disposed in alternation with the needles and adapted to engage the threads betwee said guides and said needles and to push the threads into engagement with the needles on which they are next to be knitted.

27. A circular warp-knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles, a circular series of guides, equal in number to the number of needles, each capable of occupying any of a small number of positions for feeding thread to any of a small group of needles in said series of needles, at least two sets of cams adapted to actuate successively the needles of said series of needles at different points moving progressively round said series of needles, means in association with at least one of said sets of cams for supplying a single thread to be knitted by each of said circular series of needles in succession and means acting progressively round said series of guides for moving each of said guides from a position for feeding thread to one of said small group of needles to a position for feeding thread to another at a time between the occasions on which the thread guided by said guide is knitted by said needles.

28. A circular warp-knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles, a circular series of flat blades pointing generally towards the center of the machine, but inclined, over part of their length, to the radial line of the machine, the tips of said blades constituting guides disposed above and at a substantially constant radius outside the circular series of needles, each guide being capable of occupying any of. a small number of positions for feeding thread to any of a small group of needles in said series of needles, at least two sets of cams adapted to actuate successively the needles of said series of needles at difierent points moving progressively round said series of needles, means in association with at least one of said sets of cams {for supplying a single thread to be knitted by each of said circular series of needles in succession, cam means acting progressively round said series of blades and adapted to press the inner end of the inclined part of each blade in a radial direction, the inclination of said bladecausing the tip thereof to execute a circumferential movement from a positon for feeding thread to one of said small group of needles to a positon for feeding thread to another at a time between the occasions on which the thread guided by said tip is knitted by said needles and a series of radially movable elements disposed in alternation with the needles and adapted to engage the threads between said guides and said needles and to push the threads into engagement with the needles on which they are next to be knitted.

ALBERT FAIRHOIME GUYLER.

WILLIAM HENRY BOALER.

WILLIAM EWART STANLEY. 

